DRAGONFLY
MANDARIN THE SCENE:
"A lounging after-work
crowd with a
hankering for Chinese food and colorful Martinis"
- Frontdesk Chicago, July 15-Sept
15, 2002
ASIAN
SENSATION photos by
Stuart-Rodgers Photography
"If James Bond were in Chicago, you'd most likely find
him in this newly opened pad of Asian minimalism. Reverberating
with live Gypsy King-esque tunes and a well-dressed crowd
of young professionals outfitted with bowls of spicy noodles
in one hand and colorful Martinis in the other, Dragonfly
is reminiscent of the 1930s Shanghai supper club, with
a modern day lounge-cat attitude.
Wind you way past the throngs of networking suits and
thirtysomething swells to the elegant long bar (the only
souvenir of the establishment's former days as a piano
bar), and order up a colored-sugar-rimmed Dragonfly Martini
before claiming a red banquette or oversized ottoman.
By 10:30 PM, the lounge shifts gears, cranking the underground
music up a notch and setting a clubby tone to welcome
in the bar-crawlers. So if you linger, be prepared to
share that ottoman of yours with Chicago's swanky set,
hungry from a night on the town, and ready to snack on
bite-sized Asian fusion teasers like Koo-teigh pan-fried
dumplings or a plate of lo mein. The kitchen stays open
till 4 AM, so kick off your shoes and start rubbing a
few elbows."
- Frontdesk Chicago,
May 15-July 15, 2002
SCENE
in CHICAGO by Elise Hofer
photos by George Saint George
"Since it opened it's door to a sold out crowd this past
New Year's Eve. Dragonfly-the Asian-inspired Martini bar
at 1206 N. State Parkway- has been adding a little Far
East flavor to the Gold Coast. As we stroll through the
front door, we fell a bit melancholy not to find a humble
crowd circled around the baby grand at what once was Yvette's
piano bar, but the thought quickly subsides as we discover
a much more happening haunt in its place.
The front room is alive with guys and gals perched on
the banquettes, cozying up to the bar and mingling on
the elevated dance floor. Enticing Mandarin appetizers
from Chef Tienchu Nieh are circulating about and being
washed down with signature cocktails like the 'Lemon Twist'
and 'An Apple a Day,' both served with neon-colored sugar
rims.
A far cry from the onetime mellow spot for Tin Pan Alley
piano favorites, dragonfly owner Pan Hompluem has breathed
new life into the celebrated space with a major renovation
including hardwood floors, red velvet upholstery and a
glass DJ booth. Tonight , DJ Splinter-a regular act at
Big Wig-is turning out the house beats and coaxing the
crowd onto the dance floor for Friday's 'Chi' night, a
party geared toward young Asian professionals.
Once the bar reaches maximum capacity, and enormous sliding
wall is pushed aside, linking the seductively lit back
lounge to its counterpart for one big bash. The steady
stream of people ebbing and flowing from one room to the
next makes Dragonfly a choice destination for cool lounging,
beautiful people and a taste of the Orient."
